Vaishampayana said:—Thinking thus Krishna repaired to the bank of the
river. Tying his cloth firmly he, with delight, got upon the Kadamba
tree (1). Climbing up to the top of the tree and emitting a leonine roar
the cloud-hued and lotus-eyed Krishna jumped headlong down into the lake
(2). That lake, of the river Yamunā, was agitated by his fall. And the
water thereof overflowed (on all sides) like scattering clouds (3). The
huge abode of the serpent (Kālya) was shaken by that sound. And the
serpents, with their eyes reddened with anger, rose up from the water
(4). Thereupon was seen the king of serpents Kālya endued with the hue
of clouds, having eyes reddened with ire, five hoods, a fiery
countenance and tongue and effulgent like the flames of fire (5–6). The
entire lake was covered with his hood burning like fire and five huge
and dreadful faces were seen above (the water) (7). When that king of
serpents was burning in his energy and anger the water there appeared as
if boiling and the river Yamunā, stricken with fear, flew in her
opposite course (8). Beholding Krishna coming to the lake and sporting
like a boy he had powerful winds issue out of his mouth filled with the
fire of anger (9). Scintiliations of fire, accompanied by smoke, came
out from the mouth of that king of serpents. All the huge trees, which
were grown on the bank near him, were in no time consumed by the fire of
anger discharged by that king of serpents, resembling the very
incarnation of the end of a Yuga.²¹² Thereupon his son Dāra and his
servants, the other leading serpents of incomparable energy, came there
vomitting the dreadful fire of venom accompanied by smokes (10-12).
Thereupon they made Krishna enter into a circle of their hoods. Having
his hands and feet made incapable of putting forth any exertion he stood
there motionless like a mountain (13). The leading serpents began to
sprinkle Krishna with water vitiated by their teeth. The powerful
Krishna however did not die (14). In the meantime the cow-herd boys,
filled with fear, returned weeping to Vraja and with suppressed voice
said (15):
"Out of foolishness Krishna is drowned in the lake Kālya. The king of
serpents is devouring him. Do ye all come without delay (16). Do ye
speedily go and communicate to Nanda and his followers that Krishna is
being dragged into the lake by the serpent" (17).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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